Work Text:
Woo Seulgi had mastered the art of disappearing.
Not literally, of course—she wasn’t naive enough to think she could be invisible in a school like Chaehwa High. But she had learned how to slip through the cracks, how to make herself small when she needed to.
It was a survival skill, really. One that had served her well.
Today, though, her usual tactics weren’t working.
Because Yoo Jaeyi was watching her.
And Yoo Jaeyi never let things go.
Seulgi exhaled sharply as she shoved her books into her bag, willing herself to ignore the gaze burning into the side of her face. The library was nearly empty now, the overhead lights dimmed, casting long shadows across the wooden tables. Most students had left already, eager to escape into the city.
But not Jaeyi.
No, Jaeyi was leaning against a nearby bookshelf, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
Seulgi didn’t have the patience for this. Not today.
She slung her bag over her shoulder and made her way toward the exit, hoping, praying—that Jaeyi wouldn’t follow.
Of course, she did.
"Are you planning to ignore me all night?" Jaeyi asked casually, falling into step beside her as they walked through the deserted hallway.
"That was the goal," Seulgi muttered.
Jaeyi hummed. "Rude."
Seulgi clenched her jaw, keeping her gaze forward. She was too tired for this. Too drained. The day had been long—training had been brutal, classes had been worse, and the whispers had been relentless. The orphan. The charity case. The girl who didn’t belong here.
She had heard it all before. It shouldn’t have bothered her anymore.
But some days, it did.
And today was one of those days.
"Why are you still here?" she asked finally, her voice quieter than she intended.
Jaeyi shrugged. "Maybe I like annoying you."
Seulgi shot her a look. "And maybe I don’t want to be bothered right now."
Jaeyi studied her for a moment, something flickering in her gaze. Then, instead of arguing—because Jaeyi loved to argue—she simply said, "Alright."
Seulgi blinked. "Alright?"
"Yeah." Jaeyi glanced down at her nails, inspecting them like she hadn’t just said something completely out of character. "If you don’t want to talk, we won’t talk."
Seulgi frowned, suspicious. "Just like that?"
"Just like that."
She didn’t believe it for a second.
But true to her word, Jaeyi didn’t speak as they walked out of the school gates and into the quiet streets beyond.
She did, however, stay beside her.
And somehow, that was even more frustrating.
Seulgi stopped in her tracks. "Jaeyi."
Jaeyi, who had been strolling like she had all the time in the world, turned to face her. "Yes?"
"You said you wouldn’t talk."
"I’m not talking."
Seulgi exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. "Then why are you still here?"
Jaeyi gave her a look like the answer was obvious. "Because you don’t actually want to be alone."
Seulgi opened her mouth to argue. To snap, because how dare Jaeyi act like she knew anything about her—
But nothing came out.
Because the truth sat heavy on her tongue, refusing to be spoken.
She didn’t want to be alone.
Not tonight.
And Jaeyi, for all her infuriating arrogance, had seen right through her.
Seulgi let out a slow breath, pressing her fingers to her temples. "I hate you."
Jaeyi smirked. "No, you don’t."
Seulgi closed her eyes, counted to three, then started walking again.
Jaeyi followed.
They didn’t speak after that.
But for the first time all day, Seulgi felt like she could breathe.
And maybe—just maybe—she didn’t mind Jaeyi being there after all.